Reminder....

The Hawks are not going to be near the playoffs. They didn't build this roster to maximize wins this season; this roster is built to reach the cap floor and to aid the development process for the kids.

This will also be true next year.

How well the PP plays this year doesn't mean anything, except through a developmental lens.

Last season, St Louis had quite productive powerplay. I heard one of their players on an interview say their simple plan they employ. They first look for the seam pass going across for one time, but if it is not there, they simply shoot from the point and several bodies will crash the net looking for rebound, deflection, or puck retrieval. I know it's harder than it sounds but that's good basic approach

Reminder....

The Hawks are not going to be near the playoffs. They didn't build this roster to maximize wins this season; this roster is built to reach the cap floor and to aid the development process for the kids.

This will also be true next year.

How well the PP plays this year doesn't mean anything, except through a developmental lens.
- mohel

Nonsense! They can do it if they make these specific changes that I really like.

I kid obviously. I'm fine with making changes if needed, but with the overall youth on this team, I'd like to see them stick to some kind of plan and try to build some consistency. I'm waking up at 2:00am to watch a damned hockey game simply because there is something exciting to watch. Amazingly, it is almost completely disconnected from winning (this year at least).

They owe him $53.5 million after this year for the next 6 years.
- LAHawk

You got me there.

I'm sure i don't have to say it but i will anyways, just cause Bowman signed him to that awful contract doesn't mean they owe him any minutes or preference over another player.

They owe him $53.5 million after this year for the next 6 years.
- LAHawk

For laughs I looked at the buyout on his contract.

https://www.capfriendly.c...out-calculator/seth-jones

Jones will be on this team for a while and he'll likely continue to get PP time unless one of the other D-men not named Korchinski prove themselves as better.

Not sure what else to tell you. Learn to enjoy brown liquor?
- Chunk

Hahaha,

I don't mind Seth Jones believe it or not, just mind him on the PP1 when you have a better candidate on the ice to QB it.

They owe him $53.5 million after this year for the next 6 years.
- LAHawk

Yep six more years after this of Jones.

IMO the Hawks will still be into the rebuild the following 2 to 3 years. During this time, the young defensemen will mature and gain experience and become the backbone of the team. It's still going to take that 2 to 3 years before the likes of Nazar, Moore, Greene, Misiak, Lardis, Kantserov, Marcel, etc. become, hopefully, major contributors. I look for KD to make a big free agent or trade splash in 3 years to fill in the roster with the type of player or two who is needed.

Getting back to the six more years of Jones, I don't mind him sticking around for these first three years. It's going to be the last 3 years when that contract will be an albatross. He is what he is regarding his defensive and offensive play, and his skills will gradually decline over the next few years. He's going to be a highly overpaid 5th defenseman by that time IMO. Maybe he will want out during the next few years of the rebuild, but I sense he is the type of guy willing to collect that fat paycheck while playing on a team without high expectations. The time to really worry about Jones' performance and his effect on the roster construction is a few years down the road.

Dach out long term per TSN:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/mo...wer-body-injury-1.2021696

He just can't stay healthy.

Can he now be considered fragile?

Kenzie Lalonde

@KenzieTSN
#Habs say Kirby Dach has experienced a
significant injury that is long-term.
He is still being evaluated at this time.
@TSNHockey

Dach out long term per TSN:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/mo...wer-body-injury-1.2021696

He just can't stay healthy.
- Popsghostly

Beat me to it

Yeah, Donato there maybe isn't ideal. I don't mind him on L1 as long as Hall is playing.

I'd just like to see if they can let these guys get some sort of consistency going.
- Chunk

They can't get more consistent...

I think with how much this team leaned on #19 for faceoffs, it was always going to be a step back in faceoff wins, but having a lot of rookies takes that another step further for sure.

Toews was the best powerplay faceoff man over this time in the NHL, winning nearly 65% on the PP. For the PP, it's a step back having Donato take most of the draws and only win like 33% so far. Not saying that's the only issue, but it's a lot better to win the draw and run whatever play off the draw you have planned.

I don't think the PP issues for the Hawks right now are about who is on the units, but more about getting acclimated and starting to move the puck around faster. Consider that the team doesn't practice the PP much in camp and that of the 11 players who have played any significant PP minutes so far, only 4 of them Jones, Johnson, Raddysh, and Athanasiou were on the team last year. I think it will get better given time especially while the rookies get more comfortable.

Reminder....

The Hawks are not going to be near the playoffs. They didn't build this roster to maximize wins this season; this roster is built to reach the cap floor and to aid the development process for the kids.

This will also be true next year.

How well the PP plays this year doesn't mean anything, except through a developmental lens.
- mohel

All of this is accurate and true.

The only problem with it is that NHL players want to compete now and win games.Its in their DNA, they are pros, careers are short. They don't care what high draft pick superstar results down the road from them being part of a terrible team.

And if they didn't think that way they would be playing pickup hockey with their buddies on Tuesday nights at the local Doublerinks.

Hahaha,

I don't mind Seth Jones believe it or not, just mind him on the PP1 when you have a better candidate on the ice to QB it.
- BetweenTheDots

Well, if Tinordi and Zaitsev are indeed the third pair for this game, then you can expect Jones to get about 27 minutes tonight, because that third pair is only going to get 12-13 minutes of TOI.

All of this is accurate and true.

The only problem with it is that NHL players want to compete now and win games.Its in their DNA, they are pros, careers are short. They don't care what high draft pick superstar results down the road from them being part of a terrible team.

And if they didn't think that way they would be playing pickup hockey with their buddies on Tuesday nights at the local Doublerinks.
- RickJ

100% agreed. I think the whole team works their arses off. My point was that rebuilds don't happen in a year or two, and that the next few seasons are about player development. My point was not to say that the team is or should be tanking.

100% agreed. I think the whole team works their arses off. My point was that rebuilds don't happen in a year or two, and that the next few seasons are about player development. My point was not to say that the team is or should be tanking.
- mohel

Yup, totall agree. As fans of the team just going to have to watch the on ice product and be excited when good stuff happens and when bad stuff occurs assess why. Young players screw up, but so do veterans. That includes bad line changes, stupid penalties, unforced icings, lopsided faceoff loss numbers.

So far, can't be upset about the coaching, goaltending or defence as a group. Up front there is a low voltage talent shortage. But if young players like Reichel and Bedard and even Guttman and Katchouk develop properly over the season thats a win for me.

Yup, totall agree. As fans of the team just going to have to watch the on ice product and be excited when good stuff happens and when bad stuff occurs assess why. Young players screw up, but so do veterans. That includes bad line changes, stupid penalties, unforced icings, lopsided faceoff loss numbers.

So far, can't be upset about the coaching, goaltending or defence as a group. Up front there is a low voltage talent shortage. But if young players like Reichel and Bedard and even Guttman and Katchouk develop properly over the season thats a win for me.
- RickJ

You are right and we are still just in the middle of rebuilding and it will take time.

I'm a bit skeptical when it comes to much more development from some of these players though. (I'm talking about a few more than you mentioned but all around that same age range)

Katchouck, Raddysh, R Johnson, Entwhistle, Guttman, Kurashev are all getting to that age where what you see is what you get more or less. They may still improve some, but it's probably not going to be a huge difference, more adapting and refining their current skillset.

IMO, It's unlikely we'll see Katchouk, R Johnson, Guttman, Entwhistle rise above 4th line/extra forward and time is running out for Raddysh/Kurashev to really become legit top 6 options, probably going to be 3rd line talent.

Well, if Tinordi and Zaitsev are indeed the third pair for this game, then you can expect Jones to get about 27 minutes tonight, because that third pair is only going to get 12-13 minutes of TOI.
- Angotti

Perhaps by Christmas time Richardson will use one of his first or second pair dmen in double shifted once or more each period. Maybe if Kaiser gets to handle the puck more then the thrd pair becomes more effective..

You are right and we are still just in the middle of rebuilding and it will take time.

I'm a bit skeptical when it comes to much more development from some of these players though. (I'm talking about a few more than you mentioned but all around that same age range)

Katchouck, Raddysh, R Johnson, Entwhistle, Guttman, Kurashev are all getting to that age where what you see is what you get more or less. They may still improve some, but it's probably not going to be a huge difference, more adapting and refining their current skillset.

IMO, It's unlikely we'll see Katchouk, R Johnson, Guttman, Entwhistle rise above 4th line/extra forward and time is running out for Raddysh/Kurashev to really become legit top 6 options, probably going to be 3rd line talent.
- breadbag

Agree with your last paragraph regarding the upside of the 3rd and 4th liners but how many will be around when the team becomes relevant in a few years? Maybe Raddysh and Kurashev. What about the top 6? Bedard is a given. Jury still out on Reichel. Hopefully he develops and shows something this season. Nazar probably 1-2 years away, Is Dach top 6 material? He could be ready next year but must stay healthy. Moore and other possible top 6, Green. Kantserov, Lardis probably three years away. Maybe Misiak, Marcel, Ludwinski will be in the mix for the bottom 6 by that time. This build up to a contending them is going to take a while.

Agree with your last paragraph regarding the upside of the 3rd and 4th liners but how many will be around when the team becomes relevant in a few years? Maybe Raddysh and Kurashev. What about the top 6? Bedard is a given. Jury still out on Reichel. Hopefully he develops and shows something this season. Nazar probably 1-2 years away, Is Dach top 6 material? He could be ready next year but must stay healthy. Moore and other possible top 6, Green. Kantserov, Lardis probably three years away. Maybe Misiak, Marcel, Ludwinski will be in the mix for the bottom 6 by that time. This build up to a contending them is going to take a while.
- boilermaker100

Agree on the bolded. There are few members of this team who will be members of the next very good Hawks team. KK, Kaiser, Vlasic, Bedard and Reichel. That's about it. That's why, in my opinion, focusing on team-wide results this season gets us nowhere.

Dach out long term per TSN:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/mo...wer-body-injury-1.2021696

He just can't stay healthy.
- Popsghostly

Poor kid, that's too bad

One thing I think is becoming more and more likely is that KK is probably here to stay. At least from where I'm sitting it seems like he is earning his spot and more likely to stick. The Blackhawks FO might not say anything definitive until he gets close to that 9 game mark, but I just think it's looking positive for him.

Scott Powers
@ByScottPowers
Soderblom is starting. Zaitsev in for Tinordi and Hall and Entwistle in for Guttman and R. Johnson

One thing I think is becoming more and more likely is that KK is probably here to stay. At least from where I'm sitting it seems like he is earning his spot and more likely to stick. The Blackhawks FO might not say anything definitive until he gets close to that 9 game mark, but I just think it's looking positive for him.
- breadbag

Oh, for sure. They did the smart thing and brought KK along to start the season, give him some games to see where he's at and most importantly would he be overwhelmed to the point he could not develop at the NHL level.

He has not shown even the slightest sign he's overwhelmed but he's skating 3rd most minutes for Dmen and runnin the #2 PP......... IMO the most important thing is can KK develop at the NHL level and so far, with no warning signs shown, he's shown he can/will.

In fact, IMO all 3 rookie D have shown very well. Could not have hoped for more as far as their play and would the atmosphere/slotting/partners allow them to develop.

And why didn't this team at least offer Toews, a contract. He could easily have been there #3 Center, Help Bedard and Rechial with there face offs. Even take pressure of them from taking to many interviews.